Rogue River Rafting & Wine Tour Recap - "Will Row for Wine"

Twenty-two bottles of Southern Oregon wine floated the Wild and Scenic portion of the Rogue River this July 20th-22nd. Only empties returned thanks to the guests attending the first annual Rogue River Rafting & Wine Tour hosted by Rogue River Outfitters. 


Guests enjoyed two nights and three days on the river paddling by day and sipping local wines by night. Rogue River Outfitters approached Chris and I to select and present the wines to pair with the evening meals. The wines selected for the trip included Troon Vineyard “The River Guide” Dry Riesling, Quady North Cabernet Franc, Del Rio Vineyards Viognier, Folin Cellars Tempranillo, Abacela Port, and the inaugural release of God King Slave.

It was an incredible collaboration to enjoy the scenery and adventure of the iconic Rogue River with the wines that are produced in this valley. - Chris Jiron

The scenery was beautiful, the wildlife was exciting, the river was thrilling, the food was exceptional, the lodging was comfortable, but the best part was the people, including the guides. We came together and are taking away lifelong memories. Wine has always been such an important tool in bringing people together and building lifelong friendships and this trip was no different. I hope we continue this trip for years to come and are able to share our regional wines in such a unique way. - Christine Collier

Dates for the 2012 Rogue River Rafting & Wine Tour have been set for July 18th-20th. The trip will have 12 paddles open and we would love for you to join us. Please email if you are interested in more information. 


Rogue River Outfitters is a second generation family-owned and operated guide and outfitter service. Craig and Tina Hughson truly believe the Rogue River is one of those beautiful world famous rivers that everyone needs to see and experience. They are one of few outfitters on the Rogue providing both rafting and fishing excursions. To learn more about Rogue River Outfitters visit http://www.rogueriveroutfitters.com/ or check out their blog at http://rrorafting.com.

Ashland Food Co-Op Launches New Wine Club

The Ashland Food Cooperative has neatly packaged a wine program that will stimulate the mind, palate and wallet! Here is what club members can look forward to:

• First Friday comprehensive tastings of that month's Wine Club selections in the Community Classroom
• Invites to quarterly Grand Education Experiences
• Access to industry insider events and "eno-tourism" trips
• Special case pricing on Wine Club selections
• Monthly e-newsletter
• Personal wine service from Wine Club Coordinator, Beverly McKenzie

Wine Club benefits are available for an annual fee of $35 for Co-op owners and $50 for non-owners. Quarterly event fees will vary; club members will receive discounted rates to events. Purchase Wine Club memberships online here or at the Information Desk. 

The inaugural event will be a Celebratory Reception and a First Friday Tasting on August 5th. For more information, email your questions to wineclub@ashlandfood.coop. 

The Ashland Food Co-op is Southern Oregon's first and only Certified Organic Retailer. The Co-op has a long history of bringing healthy, organic food to the community. 


I sincerely hope Southern Oregon wines will be well represented in the club to spark more interest in our region. It would only make sense for a food co-op so locally focused to use that same mission in the selection of their wines. 

2 Cases are Off to Float the River

Chris and I are gearing up to host our Rogue River Rafting & Wine Tour with Rogue River Outfitters. Two nights, three days on the wild and scenic Rogue River.

Ahhh... this will be me soon.
courtesy- Rogue Wilderness Adventures

Here is what we are packing:

• Troon Vineyard 2010 Dry Riesling
• Del Rio Vineyards 2009 Viognier
• Folin Cellars 2007 Tempranillo
• God King Slave 2009
• Quady North 2007 Cab Franc
• Abacela 2007 Port

I have room for one more wine, which one should get a spot in the lineup?

Impact of Oregon Wine Industry Doubles since 2005

The Oregon Wine Board announced results yesterday from an economic impact study showing that the Oregon wine industry's contribution to the state totals grew to $2.7 billion last year, double its impact in 2005.

The economic impact study, commissioned by the Oregon Wine Board and conducted by Full Glass Research of Berkley, California shows that the effect of the wine industry on the state's economy has grown 93% to $2.7 billion since the last study was conducted in 2005. Chairman of the Oregon Wine Board and partner in A to Z Wineworks, Sam Tannahill wrote in a recent email to Oregon Wine Board members, "I am thrilled to see this incredible growth, but also surprised as it came during a tough economic climate."

According to the Press Release published by the Oregon Wine Board,  "The outlook for continued growth of the Oregon wine industry appears to be quite positive as familiarity with Oregon's high quality, artisan style of wines has increased among savvy wine consumers. Among core wine consumers, preference for Oregon wines climbed from 19% to 23% over the past five years.

In addition, wine-related jobs in Oregon totaled 13,518 and related wages totaled $382 million. Oregon's wineries produced 1.7 million cases of wine worth $252 million in 2010 and half of that sold to customers outside of the state.

When compared to its larger wine-producing neighbors, Oregon has shown dramatically faster growth over the past five years. While California's grape production grew at a 17% pace and Washington's by 21%, Oregon's production was up 38%, trailing only New York's growth.

Oregon Wine Industry At-A-Glance

• Number of Wineries: 418
• Number of Vineyards: 849
• Acreage: 20,500
• Top Five Grape Varieties: 1. Pinot Noir (12,406 acres) 2. Pinot Gris (2,747 acres), Riesling (798 acres), Cabernet Sauvignon (639 acres), Syrah (548 acres). 

Read the full study.

Summer Jo's Hosts Thursday Night Wine Tasting

Summer Jo's serves gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday- Sunday at their certified organic 5-acre farm on the edge of Grants Pass. Their organic farm, herb garden, and on-site artisan bakery make them a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. At Summer Jo's the distance from farm to fork can be measured in footsteps for most of their fresh fare.

Summer Jo's is also featuring a variety of local wines at their Thursday night wine tastings. Here is the schedule of wineries pouring this July:

Quady North

Thursday, July 14th, 5:30-7:30 pm

Quady North with Bacchus Distributor representative, Deanna Eames, will be pouring their award-winning wines. $10 tasting fee which will be waived if you stay for dinner. No reservations required. 

L. Donovan Wines

Thursday, July 21st, 5:30-7:30 pm

Winemaker Linda Donovan makes wine for over 20 labels at Medford's Pallet Wine Company. She will be pouring her personal label. $10 tasting fee which will be waived if you stay for dinner. No reservations required.

Velocity Cellars

Thursday, July 28th, 5:30-7:30 pm

Winemaker Gus Janeway, formerly of RoxyAnn Winery will be pouring his private label. $10 tasting fee which will be waived if you stay for dinner. No reservations required.

For more information visit www.summerjos.com.

Word is Out - Speakeasy Wine Dinner... Shhhh

Oregon Viogniers: A Perfect Match for Oregon Cheeses

Six industry panelists convened at a cheese shop in Portland to taste and rate the best viogniers of Southern Oregon with the best local cheeses. Click here to see which wines were named the Best Overall, the Crowd Pleaser, the Classic Aperitif, and the Up-and-Comer.

Katherine Cole of The Oregonian and MIX Magazine reports. Read the article here.

MOTOYA NAKAMURA

Dark Chocolate and Red Wine at South Stage Cellars

It might be getting into triple digits soon, but that's not stopping South Stage Cellars from hosting an afternoon of dark chocolate and rich red wine. "Hot chocolate," anyone? Pardon my lame joke. In all seriousness, join the best chocolatiers in Southern Oregon at the Jacksonville Tasting Room on July 16th from 1-5 pm.